City beekeeping in Holland denied by Planning Commission

It seems that due to fear of some residents in Holland backyard beekeeping will not be availibile to everyone.

This Tuesday the city’s Planning Commission voted 4-2 in favor not to approve an ordinance change that would allow residents to keep honeybees in the city. Now beekeepers have to get a permit from the city for beekeeping.

“I was very disappointed” said Don Lam, president of the Holland Area Beekeepers Association. Lam (whose organization has more than 200 members in the area), sat down with city planners and proposed more solutions for neighbors and for beekeepers. Everybody hoped for a better outcome with the city council.

“We just weren’t comfortable with the language,” Commission Vice Chairman Jerry Tonini said. “If the council wants us to review it again, we will.”

“Bees are an important part of our ecosystem. I really don’t see the harm in trying it,” said Brian Burch.

Lack of beekeeping knowledge

A lot of time lack of knowledge can ensure that people are afraid of bees. They just don`t know that bees are actually harmelss for them as the neighbors. There is just too much positive effect from backyard beekeeping and a lot of positive experience over the world so for beekeepers is that kind of desidion understedbar.